Overflow trap for cooking vessels



March 31, 1931. E. F. RODLER OVERFLOWTRAP FOR COOKING VESSELS Filed Dec. 9, 1929 w n m m m INVENTOR BY M /%4' ATTORNEYS 7% Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES EDWARD I. RODLER, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.

OVERFLOW TRAP FOR COOKING VESSELS Application filed December 9, 1929. Serial No. 412,755.

This invention relates to an overflow trap for cooking vessels and has for an object to provide means for preventing the overflow of cooking vessels from extinguishing the p flame of, for instance, gas and oil stoves.

Another object consists in providing such a device which not only traps or catches the overflow, but which retains it so as to facilitate evaporation thereof.

Another object consists in providing such a device that includes means for preventing an excessive overflow from spilling out of the trapping arrangement and traveling thereunder to come in contact with the flame.

Another object consists in providing such a device which is cheap to manufacture,

sightly in appearance, and such as not to im pede the normal function of the stove or the vessel.

A further object consists in providing certain improvements in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts whereby the above named and other objects may effectively be attained.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a detail elevation, partly in section and partly in dotted lines, show- 30 ing a preferred form of the invention in use;

1g. 2 represents a bottom plan view of the device shown in full lines in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a detail section showing a modified form;

Fig. 4 represents a similar view showing another modified form; V

Fig. 5 represents a detail section, partly in elevation, showing a form in which the trapping device constitutes part of the vessel.

The fact that it is a frequent occurrence for cooking vessels to overflow and extinguish the stove flame, which results not only in damage, but even in injury or death from asphyxiation, is too well known to require 45 more than mere mention. My invention is calculated to avoid such occurrences and their consequences, which want has not, to my knowledge, been provided for up to the present time.

Referring to the form shown in Figs; 1 and 2, a conventional form of gas or oil burner is represented in dotted lines and marked generally 1. The stove plate thereabove is correspondingly represented and marked 2. The cooking vessel is also indicated in dotted lines and denoted by 3. These parts may be of any well known or approved form, and, as they constitute no portion of this invention, they will not further be described.

The device which forms the subject matter of my invention consists of a ring or annulus which may be formed, for instance, of suitable sheet metal, and which is adapted to span the opening in the stove plate 2 above the burner 1 and support the vessel 3 in heat ing contact with the flame.

The said annulus has an opening 4 formed therein to permit direct heating of the bottom of the vessel 3, and this opening is surrounded by one or more (two being shown in the present instance), headings 5, which are stamped or pressed up and adaptedto support the vessel 3.

Exterior of the outer beading 5 the device slants downwardly, as indicated at 6, and is formed near its periphery with a groove 7. The extreme edge is turned, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, in order to promote a sightly ap pearance and to provide an edge for resting upon the stove plate 2. p

In operation, in case there is an overflow from the vessel 3, the liquid will trickledown the sides of the vessel and thence along the portion 6 of the device, after which it will be received in the groove 7. The ring is, of course, hot when in use and the extended surface 6, as well as the groove 7, will promote evaporation so that it would be a very rare occurrence for the material to pass beyond the said groove. In case, however, there should be such an excess overflow as to spill out of the groove 7, the liquid cannot reach the flame because it would have to pass around and underneath the extreme periphery of the device and then upwardly along its under surface in order to reach a position from which it might drop upon the flame. Liquid will not follow such a course.

It will be observed that the deviceis of such character that it may very readily be stamped or bent from sheet metal, and also that it may be used to effect its purpose without requiring any change in the construction of the stove or the cooking vessel. There is nothing unsightly or awlrward about its appearance or handling and it-may conveniently be stored in a small space when not in use.

Referring to the modified form shown in Fig. 3, it may be said that its construction is generally similar to that of the form;- shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but that it differs somewhat in shape. Thus, a single wide concave surface, denoted by 8, is substituted for the slanting surface 6 and groove 7 of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This portion 8 constitutes an extended surface for facilitating evaporation and also serves to hold some of the liquid. The periphery of this form is bent so as to bring the edge further inward and upward than in the form of Figs. 1 and 2, audit is provided with an inverted groove 9 which serves effectually to stop radial inward movement of excess liquid which may i have spilled over from portion 8.

Referring to the modified form shown in Fig. 4, it is noted that a flat portion 10 is substituted for the headings 5; that a slanting portion 11, similar to portion 6, is provided; that any groove or depression, such as 7 and 8,'is omitted, and that an inverted groove 12, quite like groove 9, is present.

These forms shown in Figs; 3 and i are used in the same way as the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

. W Vith reference to the form shown in Fig. 5, it'may be notedcthat this differs in that the device for trapping the overflow and preventing it from having access to the flame constitutes a portion of the cooking vessel itself. In this form the body of the vessel is marked 13 and its lower periphery is formed so as to constitute a groove 14 which is fitted to receive theoverflow. The under surface of the vessel is slanted upwardly for some distance inwardly of the periphery, and is fashioned with a plurality of grooves 15, 16, 17. It will be observedthat groove 16 is higher than groove 15, and that groove 17 is higher than groove 16, also that upwardly slanting surfaces 18, 19, 20. are locatedadjacent the said grooves. This arrangement tends effectively to prevent any excess'of overflow, which may have spilled out of groove 14:, from passing along the bottom of the 1,7es,75s

has a certain advantage in that it constitutes part of the vessel itself, instead of requiring the handling of a separate device; but it is less advantageous than the other forms shown in other respects, particularly because its use is limited to the one vessel of whichit constitutes a part instead of being adapted to support and cooperate with any one of a number of vessels.

It will be seen that the device described hasthe characteristics and is calculated to accomplish theobj ects hereinabove set forth; and it will also be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the various parts whereby the above named and other objectsmay effectively'be attained; hence. I do not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except as they may be included in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, having aslanting portion and a groove formed on its upper surface, and a groove formed on its under surface, said under surface also being formed with an inner portion adjacent the periphery higher than the said surface at the periphery.

2. A device of the character described comprising an upper surface portion adapted to be engaged by a vessel, an annular surface portion inclined outwardly and downwardly from a point adjacentthe periphery of the upper, surface portion, an overflow-retaining depress-ion adjacent the base of said annular surface portion, the peripheral portion of the base forming a supporting surface for the device. v j

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 6th day of December,1929.

EDWARD F. RODLER.

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vessel and dropping on the flame. In order furthe'rto guard against such an eventuality,

the bottom of the vessel is formed witha groove 21 that is located just exterior to the fieldof the flame.

The, said bottom portion of the vessel may be molded or machined as an integral part of the vessel, or it may be formed'separately andvsecured to the vessel, all as is well understood in this art. This, form of invention 

